Theresa May vowed a ‘robust’ response to the EU today amid fury at the bloc’s demand for sweeping powers to ground planes and impose punitive tariffs during the Brexit transition.
The Prime Minister dismissed the threat as ‘noises off’ as she said the government would stay focused on getting a good deal.
The comments came after negotiating guidelines published by Brussels suggested it wants to hold powers to penalise Britain during the two year gap between Brexit in March 2019 and the final deal coming into force.
The EU also wants to strip the UK of the right to challenge decisions made by EU judges in the European Court of Justice during the transition.
If the UK refuses then the Brussels club plans to hit back by blocking sectors from having access to the single market.
This could harm transactions in the City of London, hit cross border trade and stop British airlines from landing their planes in EU airports.
Stefaan De Rynck, an adviser to EU negotiator Michel Barnier, insisted today a sanction for ‘foul play’ had to be part of any agreement.
But speaking at PMQs in the Commons, Mrs May said: ‘We will be robust in our arguments.
Theresa May, picured at PMQs today flanked by David Lidington (left) and Philip Hammond, said Britain would be ‘robust’ about demands made by the EU
Brexiteers Bernard Jenkin and Jacob Rees-Mogg lashed out at ‘silly threats’ from Brussels after it emerged the EU wants a punishment clause in the transition period
‘As I have said right from the beginning, we will hear all sorts of noises off, we will hear all sorts of things about positions are being taken.
‘What matters is the positions we take in the negotiations as we sit down and negotiate the best deal.
‘We’ve shown we can do that, we did it in December and we’re going to do it again.’
Brexiteers reacted with fury today at the EU’s ‘silly threat’ to ground planes in the UK if it cannot impose new laws during the Brexit transition.
Senior Brexiteer Bernard Jenkin insisted today the threat proved how worried Brussels was about Britain succeeding.
Mr Jenkin told BBC Radio: ‘This is an indication of how fearful the EU is that they have to make these silly threats.
‘Of course we are going to do rather well outside the EU and we are going to show the EU up as a rather less successful organisation than it is.’
Jacob Rees-Mogg, billed as a possible leadership rival to May, said the British government would find it ‘very difficult’ to agree with.
‘Thank heavens we are leaving an organisation that takes such an aggressive stance when you don’t do what you are told,’ he told The Times.
But Mr De Rynck replied on Twitter: ‘The EU responds to PM May’s request to benefit from single market and customs union for a limited time during which all must play by the same rules.
‘Foreseeing possibility of sanctions for foul play is of course part of any agreement.’
Mr Verhofstadt listens to Mr Juncker as they have a frank conversation at the European Parliament today
The plans reveal that the EU is worried that Britain will break European law during the transition period.
They fear that the UK will lodge an objection to the law with the ECJ and try to wait out the two years by embarking on a lengthy legal challenge at the Luxembourg based court.
They believe this will create a loophole which will effectively let Britain dodge new rules and regulations f or the transition period – something hey are determined to block.
To stop this happening Brussels wants to create a way of punishing Britain by denying important and lucrative sectors of the economy access to the single market if we do not follow all the new laws.
The hardline stance is major blow for Theresa May (pictured in Manchester today)who was aiming to get a transition deal signed up to by the end of next month.
Brussels is insisting that Britain signs up to all EU laws and ECJ judgements during the two year transition period.
It states: ‘In addition, the Governance and Dispute Settlement Part of the Withdrawal Agreement should provide for a mechanism allowing the Union to suspend certain benefits deriving for the United Kingdom from participation in the internal market where it considers that referring the matter to the Court of Justice of the European Union would not bring in appropriate time the necessary remedies.’
Peter Ptassek, Germany’s top Brexit official, tweeted: ‘Now we are talking #transition! Straight forward draft by [the commission] provides the clarity the economy facing Brexit needs. Not so much time left to get a deal on this in March.’
But the move will meet with fierce resistance among Tory Brexiteers who have warned against allowing Britain to become a ‘vassal state’ during the two-year transition.
Brexit Secretary David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, has called for a clause to ensure that Britain will not be forced to implement laws against its interests.
But it looks as if that demand appears likely to be ignored by Brussels.